On 30 September 1981, the journal Nouvelles atlantiques reports on the first press conference held on 24 September by the new French President François Mitterrand. With regard to security, he is particularly concerned at the mass deployment of Soviet SS-20 missiles. In this context, the President states that France’s security relies firstly on its ability to defend itself and only secondly on the quality and swiftness of its alliances. France will therefore continue to adopt its own deterrent strategy and will pursue its development of the neutron bomb.